2008 BMW M5 - Styling Review

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Some might call the styling on the 2008 BMW M5 classic; others might simply refer to it as boring. This is always a highly subjective category, but one thing that most people will agree on is that the 2008 BMW M5 is far from the most exciting-looking vehicle on the road.

The M5 BMW is, according to Edmunds, a "high-performance variant of the midsize 5 Series performance sedan available in one trim only." For the most part, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com indicate the BMW M5 looks similar to its brethren, though Cars.com says that the M5 has a "unique front face to distinguish it from other 5 Series sedans." ForbesAutos adds that the BMW M5 "does look different than the standard 5 Series, but not different enough for the average driver to immediately notice." Kelley Blue Book notes that "critics have been harsh on BMW's current styling," but they also comment "all 5 Series models get styling enhancements for 2008." Among those styling enhancements are "redesigned headlights, taillights, front air dam, rear bumper and rear diffuser," while "the M5 sports a deeper, more aggressive front air dam with larger center air intake and brake air inlets." ForbesAutos also reports that the 2008 BMW M5 features "deeper side sills, a decklid spoiler and four tail pipes large enough to spit tennis balls."

Moving to the interior, Kelley Blue Book notices several changes right away when compared to previous M5 BMWs, including the "power window switches relocated to the armrests" and the "leather-wrapped center console and passenger door handles." The BMW M5 gets "special brushed aluminum trim" says MyRide.com, "but you can choose from two different wood tones if you want a warmer cabin atmosphere." Edmunds feels the interior "looks unchanged," though "a few key updates" have been made for the current model, including a "simple, modernistic dashboard" with an attempt at simpler controls for iDrive. ForbesAutos voices frustration at the car's "blithering adjustability," calling the M5 BMW a "technologically overloaded sport sedan." One of the major drawbacks to all the adjustability on the 2008 BMW M5 is that it calls for a lot of buttons and controls, which MyRide.com notes number "nearly 50-some." ForbesAutos also laments the BMW iDrive system, which they feel resembles a "fearsome cave of menus, settings and choices" that require reading the owner's manual and spending "a Saturday navigating the deep recesses of the cave" to master.

Conclusion

The M-specific styling touches are nice, but the 2008 BMW M5 isn't anything you haven't seen before.

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